When will the Perfect Storm come?

This week I have made preparations for the launch of Podcar.org. A large part of that is to research what is going on in the world of sustainable transportation. It is obvious that a lot of energy is going into Podcar development and interest - but also that we still have a rather long way to go before we reach critical mass. I am encouraged by news such as the continued success of the Heathrow system -  http://www.reuters.com/video/2012/04/04/heathrow-moves-forward-with-pod-cars?videoId=221945131&videoChannel=2602 and even more excited when I in January read about the India project - http://www.cnngo.com/mumbai/life/pods-future-urban-transport-india-409090. These are important actions and news for us, yet still not strong enough to drive the industry forward into stronger research & development. So, when will the Perfect Storm come? My guess is that the combination of high energy prices, increased demand of efficient transportation, unsustainable congestion as the cities get more and more dense and not least the issues with Global Warming will all together reach a critical point in a near future. None of the existing modes of transportation can alone answer the call for a better and sustainable way to get around. The time for Podcar technology as a general transportation system is not now - but in a nearer future than many realizes.